Fence-machine



WL PEEPER.

No. 388,503. 8 Patented Aug. 28, 1888.

(No Model.) n l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2*.

W. PEEPER-. EENCE MACHINE.

No. 388,503. a Patented Aug. 28, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FEEPER, OF HICKSVILLE, OHIO.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,503, dated August 28, 1888.

Application filed July 17,1888. Serial No, 280,228. (No model.)

To all whom it 11mg concern:

Be it known that I, WILLTAM FEEDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hicksville, in the county of Defiance and State of Ohio,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Machines, of which Athe following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fence-machines for twisting the wires between the pickets of wire-and-picket fences; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be 'more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of'a fence-machine embodying my improvements, showing the same in the position for constructing a fence. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the operating parts of the same in an elevated position. Fig. 3 is a similarview ofthe reversed side of the fencemachine. Fig. 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the linexx of Fig. 2.

Arepresents a vertical bar, and B represents a series of three or more horizontal arms or plates, B, which are secured to the said bar at suitable regular distances apart by means of bolts C and project beyond one side of the said bar. The outer projecting ends of the arms or plates are rounded, as shown, and provided on their under sides with re-entering curved notches or open slots D. In the upper sides of the said arms or plates, at a suitable distance within the said curved slots D, are similar curved open slots, E.

F represents a series of circular twisting heads or disks, each of which is centrally pivoted to the outer end of one of the plates or arms B by means of a bolt, G. Said disks or heads are provided on diametrically-opposite sides with radial open slots H I, the latter being about double the length of the former.

K represents sigmoidal locking-plates, one of which is pivoted at a suitable distance from one end to each of the bolts G. The said locking-plates have right-angled arms L at their opposite extremities, which project in opposite directions, and are adapted to close the slots I H, respectively, near their inner ends when the locking-plates are turned to a posi tion in line with the said slot-s.

M represents detents or latches, which are pivoted to the disks or piston-heads by means of screws or pins N, and are adapted to be turned so that their free ends bear against the shorter arms ofthe locking-plates, so as to secure the latter in position in line with the open slots of the disks.

Projecting from the piston heads or disks at right angles to the open slots therein are arms O, which depend from said heads or disks. l? represents an operating-bar, which is provided at a suitable distance from its upper` end with a` handle, B, that projects from one side. A series of bolt-arms, S, extends transversely, and is passed through the operating-bar, and the outer bifurcated ends of said bolt-arms receive the outer ends of the arms O, and are pivotal] y connected thereto by means of pins T.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that by grasping the handle B and operating the same the operating-rod may be moved vertically and in a lateral direction, so as to cause the twisting disks or heads to be simultaneously turned to slightly more than half a revolution.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The pairs of fence-wires a, which are stretched in the usual manner along the proposed line of fence, are passed through the open slots of the piston disks or heads, and the lockingplates are turned so as to cause their arms to bear against the outer sides of the wires and to turn the latter in place at the inner ends of the slots. The detents are turned so as to bear against the said locking plates and thereby secure the same in position. Having inserted a picket between the pairs of wires, the operator causes the twisting-heads to make slightly more than half a rotation, in the manner before described, so as to cross the pairs of wires behind the picket, and thereby secure the same in place. The function of the open slots D E, with which the arms or plates B are provided, :is to enable the said wires to clear said arms or plates when the twisting-heads are operated, as will be readily understood. By this means it is possible to turn the twisting-heads to slightly more than half a revolution after this picket is inserted between the y wires so as to cause the wires to be crossed, as

ICO

before stated, and to lie snugly together in contact with each other between the pickets, and hence render it unnecessary to use pinchers when building the fence.v

Having thus described by invention, I claiml. The combination, in a fence-machine, of the revoluble twisting heads or disks having the radial open slots, and the locking-plates pivoted on said twisting heads or disks and having the arms adapted to close said slots near their inner ends, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

' 2. The combination, in a fence-machine, of the revoluble twisting heads or disks having the open slots to receive the fence-wires, the locking-plates pivoted on said heads or disks and having the right angled arms at their ends adapted to close the slots near the inner ends thereof for the purpose set forth, and the detent to engage and secure the said locking plates, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the bar A, the arms or plates B, projecting from one side thereof and having the open slots D E on opposite sides, the revoluble twisting-heads pivoted to the said arms or plate and having the open slots,said head being further provided with the arms O, the operating-bar, and the arm projecting from the same and pivotally connected to the arms O, substantially as described.

4. The combination f the arm A, the plates or arms B, secured thereto and projecting from one side thereof l and provided with the slots D E, the twisting heads or disks pivoted at the outer ends cf said arms or plates and having the radial open slots, the lockingplates K, pivoted to the said piston disks or heads and having the arms L, projectingin opposite directions, for the purpose set forth, the operating bar P, and means, substantially as described, connecting said operating bar to the piston heads or disks, whereby the latter may be partly rotated si mnltaneously,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signatur-ein presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM PEEPER.

Vitnesses:

FRANK L. FosLow, EMANUEL MURPHY. 

